Adjusting Handover Parameters for Massive Mimo Wireless Devices

1. A method for adjusting handover parameters for access nodes capable of transmitting massive multiple-input multiple-output (mMIMO) signals, the method comprising: determining that a serving access node is capable of transmitting a mMIMO signal; identifying a neighboring access node adjacent to the serving access node, wherein there is an overlapping region between the coverage areas of both serving and neighboring access nodes; and adjusting a handover parameter for wireless devices attached to the serving access node and receiving the mMIMO signal from the serving access node wherein adjusting the handover parameter comprises one or both of: lowering a first signal level threshold of a first reference signal transmitted from the serving access node, or raising a second signal level threshold of a second reference signal transmitted from the neighboring access node.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein a first wireless device receiving the mMIMO signal remains attached to the serving access node while being located outside an edge of a coverage area of the serving access node.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the first wireless device is traveling in a direction away from the serving access node.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein a first wireless device receiving the mMIMO signal remains attached to the serving access node until one or more of the first signal level threshold or the second signal level threshold is reached.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the first wireless device requests a handover to the neighboring access node when one or more of the first signal level threshold or the second signal level threshold is reached.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: determining that the neighboring access node is capable of transmitting a second mMIMO signal; and adjusting a second handover parameter for wireless devices attached to the neighboring access node, wherein, based on the adjusted second handover parameter, a second wireless device receiving the second mMIMO signal remains attached to the neighboring access node while being located outside an edge of the coverage area of the neighboring access node.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein adjusting the second handover parameter comprises one or both of: lowering a third signal level threshold of the second reference signal transmitted from the neighboring access node, or raising a fourth signal level threshold of the first reference signal transmitted from the serving access node.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the second wireless device remains attached to the neighboring access node until one or more of the third signal level threshold or the fourth signal level threshold is reached.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising maintaining a default handover parameter for wireless devices not receiving the mMIMO signal.

10. A system for adjusting handover parameters for access nodes capable of transmitting massive multiple-input multiple-output (mMIMO) signals, the system comprising: a processing node; and a processor coupled to the processing node, the processor being configured to perform operations comprising: determining that a serving access node is capable of transmitting a mMIMO signal; identifying a neighboring access node adjacent to the serving access node, wherein an overlapping region exists between coverage areas of the serving access node and the neighboring access node; and adjusting a handover parameter for wireless devices attached to the serving access node such that a first wireless device receiving the mMIMO signal and located closer to the neighboring access node remains attached to the serving access node; wherein adjusting the handover parameter comprises one or both of: lowering a first signal level threshold of a first reference signal transmitted from the serving access node, or raising a second signal level threshold of a second reference signal transmitted from the neighboring access node.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the first wireless device remains attached to the serving access node until one or more of the first signal level threshold or the second signal level threshold is reached.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the first wireless device requests a handover to the neighboring access node when one or more of the first signal level threshold or the second signal level threshold is reached.

13. The system of claim 10 , further comprising: determining that the neighboring access node is capable of transmitting a second mMIMO signal; and adjusting a second handover parameter for wireless devices attached to the neighboring access node.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein, based on the adjusted second handover parameter, a second wireless device attached to the neighboring access node and traveling away from the center of a coverage area of the neighboring access node towards an edge of the coverage area of the neighboring access node remains attached to the neighboring access node.

15. A processing node for adjusting handover parameters for access nodes capable of transmitting massive multiple-input multiple-output (mMIMO) signals, the processing node being configured to perform operations comprising: determining that a serving access node is capable of transmitting a mMIMO signal; identifying a neighboring access node adjacent to the serving access node, wherein there is an overlapping region between the coverage areas of both serving and neighboring access nodes; and adjusting a handover parameter for wireless devices attached to the serving access node and receiving the mMIMO signal from the serving access node, wherein adjusting the handover parameter comprises one or both of: lowering a first signal level threshold of a first reference signal transmitted from the serving access node, or raising a second signal level threshold of a second reference signal transmitted from the neighboring access node.

16. The processing node of claim 15 , wherein a first wireless device receiving the mMIMO signal remains attached to the serving access node while being located outside an edge of a coverage area of the serving access node.

17. The processing node of claim 16 , wherein the first wireless device is traveling in a direction away from the serving access node.

18. The processing node of claim 15 , wherein a first wireless device receiving the mMIMO signal remains attached to the serving access node until one or more of the first signal level threshold or the second signal level threshold is reached.